Why Granit Xhaka is better received abroad than in Switzerland After his fall from the century, Hermann Maier becomes a two-time Olympic champion

The praise for Granit Xhaka literally came from the highest authority in German football. “He is the leader of Switzerland and Leverkusen. “I would rather not see him in the group match against us at the European Championship,” said Rudi Völler. World champion as a player, World Cup finalist as a coach. Today sports director of the DFB.

That was last December. Völler commented on the draw for the European Championship and Xhaka had just led Bayer Leverkusen into the winter break as leader. The view of Xhaka has not changed in Germany since then. He is on course for a championship with Bayer after last Saturday’s 3-0 win against Bayern Munich and is currently the celebrated star of the Bundesliga. The best player on German fields. He hit the most passes in the league. Most balls brought to the teammate. And the second most kilometers traveled. In Germany, fans, observers and experts know for sure: we are currently seeing the best Xhaka ever.

“Higher recognition in Germany”

And here? There is a little less cheer when it comes to Xhaka. Many people agree with Rudi Völler. They ‘would rather not see’ Xhaka. But they mean it differently than Völler. ‘Away with him! “He proves time and time again in public that he is unbearable as captain of the national team,” an angry reader of this newspaper wrote on behalf of many in November, after the national team failed to qualify for the European Championship.

A national team that Xhaka not so long ago led to the quarter-finals of the European Championship and for which he played a record number of 121 games. A few weeks ago, Xhaka told the streaming service DAZN: “The recognition for me is certainly higher in Germany than in Switzerland, where I receive a little more criticism.”

Celebrated in Germany, only tolerated here. At best. Xhaka is also the man with the most ball contacts in the national team. Most passports arrived. Most kilometers traveled. Where does this discrepancy in perception come from? Is it because the Germans, this nation with four World Cup titles, understand more about football?

Hardly. Instead, Xhaka is seen differently in the two countries because he fulfills different roles in both countries and creates different expectations. In Germany he is just a footballer who performs incredibly well. On that spot. Nothing more is needed. Especially because he plays for a club that is not in the media spotlight and is not very polarizing.

Also a representative in Switzerland

In Switzerland, however, Xhaka is under different supervision. It’s not just about his performance on the field. His statements after the match are also assessed. About his gestures during the game. And last but not least about his behavior off the field, which, let’s face it, is really no one’s business. But because he is a national team player and captain, people judge not only footballer Xhaka, but also Xhaka as a representative of an entire country.

There may be people who have difficulty with the multicultural composition of the national football team and therefore want to work on the Kosovo-born Xhaka for no rationally explainable reason. But there are also people who are specifically concerned about Xhaka showing the double eagle or getting a tattoo shortly before the European Championship, despite advice to the contrary. If he grabs his crotch in the World Cup match against Serbia or does not get vaccinated against Corona. Or when he publicly criticizes the coach, as he did repeatedly during European Championship qualifying. All this has little to do with footballer Xhaka. But a lot with the Swiss representative Xhaka.

Footballer there, representative here. Is this the key to the answer to the question of why Xhaka is celebrated in Germany and only tolerated in Switzerland? Yes and no. The second part of the answer cannot be found in the socio-political realm, but simply in Xhaka’s recent performances for Switzerland. How many times has he given us the opportunity to celebrate him on the national team lately? Xhaka’s last, albeit somewhat good, international match was in the World Cup match in Qatar against Serbia in 2022. The last time he really excelled in Swiss clothing was in the European Championship round of 16 against France in 2021.

The Swiss fan has the right to judge Xhaka on his performance in the national team and not on that of the club. And if these are correct again, the tolerated person will quickly become the celebrated person in this country again. Such as after returning from the 2021 European Championship. No one had to sign more autographs and take more selfies at Zurich airport than Granit Xhaka. He was not only tolerated, but certainly celebrated. (aargauerzeitung.ch)